The First Sunday after Christmas January 1, 2017 The Name of Jesus

Transcription

1 The First Sunday after Christmas January 1, 2017 The Name of Jesus Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Visit our web site: Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! First Sunday after Christmas January 1, 2017 We tend to take for granted that the Old Testament ends and the New Testament begins when Jesus is born, but Jesus Christ was born a Jew. Mary and Joseph were pious Old Testament Jews. They took for granted that Jesus would be circumcised eight days after He was born, in keeping with the covenant God had made with Abraham two thousand years before Jesus was born. On the day He received circumcision, He was formally given the name Jesus, which means The LORD saves. The Old Testament combination of circumcision and giving a child a name is parallel with our New Testament practice of giving a child his Christian name when he receives Holy Baptism. GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP You are invited to ponder Psalm 8, which can be found in the pew Bible on pages LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN PRELUDE: The First Noel David Willcocks OPENING HYMN: Christian Worship #70 stanzas 1-4 Help Us, O Lord, for Now We Enter Son of a pastor, Johann Rist was born on March 8, 1607, at Ottensen, Germany (a village close to Hamburg). From his birth he was dedicated to the ministry. Rist was distinguished by precocious and varied talents; he visited several universities, including Leipzig, Utrecht, and Leyden, and studied mathematics, chemistry, and medicine, as well as theology. At the University of Rostock he studied Hebrew, mathematics, and medicine. During his time at Rostock, the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself almost succumbed to the pestilence which raged there in In the spring of 1635 he married Elizabeth Stapfel, sister of the Judge Franz Stapfel, and settled at Wedel (just outside Hamburg, on the banks of the Elbe River) were he accepted a pastorate seemingly due to his wife's influence. He was a very strict Lutheran in doctrine, but he was accused by some other Lutherans of preaching too little against heresy. His reply was "that he believed there were not above a couple of strangers in his congregation who held false doctrine, but plenty of people who led sinful lives; and to accuse men of heresy never produced a living, fruitful faith in them, only pride and impulses of hatred." Rist ministered both to the spiritual and physical needs of his people as a pastor and a physician. He remained in Wedel until his death on August 31, Those able, please stand for stanza 4 PASTORAL GREETING Pastor Albrecht INVOCATION: P: God gathers His baptized children in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. CONFESSION OF SINS: P: Dear friends, let us draw near to God with penitent hearts and confess our sins, asking Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. I invite you to kneel, if you are able, as we make our confession. C: Almighty and all-merciful God, I confess that I am by nature sinful. I have sinned against You in my thoughts, my words, and my actions. For faithless worrying and selfish pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, I deserve to be cast away from You forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sin. Forgive me, for Jesus sake. 3

4 ABSOLUTION: P: In His great mercy, God has compassion on us. He gave His only begotten Son to suffer and die for us, and on the third day, raised Him from the dead. Jesus saves us from our sins, and He is with us always, even unto the end of the world. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: Please rise. In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. HYMN OF PRAISE: Christian Worship #71 stanzas 4-5 The Old Year Now Has Passed Away Johann Steurlein was born July 5, 1546 at Schmalkalden, Germany, where his father, Caspar Steurlein, was the first Lutheran pastor. Johann was educated at the Latin school in Magdeburg and at the University of Wittenberg, where he studied law. In 1569 he became town clerk, organist and music teacher in Wasungen, a town near Schmalkalden. He was crowned as poet laureate by Emperor Rudolf II in recognition of his work of rhyming the Old and New Testaments in German. An excellent musician, he published a number of his own melodies, and several four-part chorale harmonizations, German motets, and Passion settings. It is not certain that he wrote this hymn, but he was the first to publish it in He finished his career as the mayor of Meiningen, where he died on May 5, PRAYER OF THE DAY PSALM OF THE DAY Christian Worship, page 67 Psalm 8 Our English word Benediction comes from two Latin words that mean to speak well. God speaks well when He blesses us by putting His name upon us. THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Numbers 6: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27 So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. Reading Response P: This is the word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! P: Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia! C: (sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 4

5 THE EPISTLE LESSON: Galatians 3: Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ s, then you are Abraham s offspring, heirs according to promise. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! The covenant of circumcision that God gave to Abraham was all about the promised Seed, the Messiah, Christ Jesus. When Jesus came, He transformed the covenant of circumcision into the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. VERSE OF THE DAY: Christian Worship, page 30 THE GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 2:21 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! THE NICENE CREED: Christian Worship, page 31 SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #76 Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love William Walsham How, son of a lawyer, was born December 13, 1823 at Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England. His mother died when he was only two and a half years old. He earned both a bachelor s degree and a master s degree at Oxford and became a deacon in the Church of England in The following year he was ordained a priest and appointed to serve Holy Cross in Shrewsbury, where he met and married Frances Ann Douglas, a clergyman s daughter. For a few years he was chaplain of the English Church in Rome. In 1879 Queen Victoria appointed him Bishop of Bedford, a diocese that included the slums of East London. Although he preached for the Salvation Army and several times before the Queen at Windsor, and received honorary doctorates from the Archbishop of Canterbury and from Oxford, he remained a humble man, once refusing to become Bishop of Durham, which would have more than doubled his income. Popularly known by his middle name, he was also called The Poor Man s Bishop and The Children s Bishop. He died August 10, 1897 while on holiday in Ireland. In addition to this hymn, he also wrote We Give Thee but Thine Own, and For All the Saints. Those able, please stand Christ Jesus took our place when He was born of a woman and born under the law. He began to redeem us from under the law, as He shed the first drops of His blood on the day He was circumcised. Children are invited to come forward during the final stanza 5

6 Those able, please stand SERMON: Text: Luke 2:21 Title: The Bloodshed Begins RESPONSE TO THE SERMON: Christian Worship, page 20 OFFERING: We joyously and gratefully bring our firstfruits to God. Give online at give.4gvn.us OFFERTORY: As with Gladness Men of Old Wayne Wold Those able, please stand HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #75 stanzas 1-2 Father, Let Me Dedicate PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS LORD S PRAYER FIRST BLESSING Those able, please stand Non-alcoholic white wine is available in each tray for anyone who prefers it. Gluten-free wafers are also available. To indicate that you prefer gluten-free, please raise your index finger when the wafers are brought to you. THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT: Christian Worship, pages The Sacrament of the Altar is a special blessing for God s people: our sins are forgiven, our faith is strengthened, and our resolve to live for the Lord is renewed. We believe the word of Jesus that under the bread and the wine we receive the Real Presence of our Savior, His Body and His Blood, for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All who are baptized and confirmed and confess this understanding of the Lord s Supper are welcome to receive the sacrament with us. We enjoy fellowship in a close communion with each other as we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord together. Visitors who wish to continue to commune with us on a regular basis, or those who have questions are encouraged to speak with one of the pastors. Parents are welcome to bring their non-confirmed children with them to the altar. The pastor will pronounce a blessing on them. Parents should instruct such unconfirmed children not to stand on the cushions and to keep their hands folded, so the pastor will know who should not receive the sacrament. Those able, please stand DISTRIBUTION HYMNS: Christian Worship #36 A Great and Mighty Wonder Christian Worship #41 Let All Together Praise Our God THANKSGIVING: Christian Worship, pages 24 BENEDICTION ORGAN POSTLUDE: Joy to the World David Cherwien 6

7 . SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Michael Albrecht (preaching) Organist: Tom Rowland Ushers: (8:00) Loren Bahls and Team #5 (10:30) Virginia Genz and Team #6 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Becky Martinez, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Lorna Redding, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Bill Rahn, Laverne Smith, Don Stephan, Irene Steenberg, Gil Ude SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Pastor Alex Krongolm, senior pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Petrozavodsk, and his wife, Nadia, as they work with the young people in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia. FLOWERS Thank you to the Altar Guild and Volunteers for decorating the Sanctuary. Thank you to all who contributed to our Poinsettia Garden, and to the Saint James family who donated the Christmas trees for our chancel. If you would like to order FLOWERS to be placed in the chancel, please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at or stadlerek@comcast.net. Stewardship Thought When it comes to giving, some folks stop at nothing. Living as a Local Missionary Donate preemie-sized clothes to a neonatal ICU. Preemie parents usually weren t prepared for that size, and with all the stress of a frail baby, those gifts make a difference Ask the nurses what else the parents need. 7

8 Take Down Christmas Decorations Wednesday, January 4, :30-4:00 p.m. All are welcome once again to make light work of cleanup, and enjoy pizza and fellowship in the Fireside Room. 8